NICA Circus Showcase 2011
Jordan Beth Vincent
November 25, 2011
National Circus Centre, to December 3
IT'S that time of year again, when graduating students from Melbourne's elite training institutions emerge from studios across the city to show off their newly developed skills. Every year I marvel at the impressive skill level coming out of NICA, and this year is no exception.
Highlights from the class of 2011 include Zoe Newitt's elegant aerial dance on the vertical rope, David Coombs' gorgeous suspended spins on the giant hoop, and Thomas Gorham, who balances on a swinging trapeze. On his head.
The show suffers, unfortunately, from its overall direction. Director Megan Jones fails to find a theme to tie in the disparate acts. Almost every act is too long (and with 17 graduates this really adds up) and the overuse of melancholy instrumental music contributes to a sluggish dynamic. Moreover, there are moments of questionable taste, such as when a blow-up doll becomes part of a trapeze act.
Jones needs to rein in her production, editing to ensure every performer looks his or her best onstage.
At the end of the day, any show of graduating students is going to have its rough patches. Rings will fall, hula-hoops will refuse to hoop in concert, and that big finishing trick will prove elusive when it really counts.
But this is a chance to marvel at the abilities of these performers, who - missteps aside - are truly fearless artists. In only a few weeks they will become professional, ready to take on the stages of Australia and the world.Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/stage/nica-circus-showcase-2011-20111124-1nwqu.html#ixzz1eiQ26jTR
Highlights from the class of 2011 include Zoe Newitt's elegant aerial dance on the vertical rope, David Coombs' gorgeous suspended spins on the giant hoop, and Thomas Gorham, who balances on a swinging trapeze. On his head.
The show suffers, unfortunately, from its overall direction. Director Megan Jones fails to find a theme to tie in the disparate acts. Almost every act is too long (and with 17 graduates this really adds up) and the overuse of melancholy instrumental music contributes to a sluggish dynamic. Moreover, there are moments of questionable taste, such as when a blow-up doll becomes part of a trapeze act.
Jones needs to rein in her production, editing to ensure every performer looks his or her best onstage.
At the end of the day, any show of graduating students is going to have its rough patches. Rings will fall, hula-hoops will refuse to hoop in concert, and that big finishing trick will prove elusive when it really counts.
But this is a chance to marvel at the abilities of these performers, who - missteps aside - are truly fearless artists. In only a few weeks they will become professional, ready to take on the stages of Australia and the world.Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/stage/nica-circus-showcase-2011-20111124-1nwqu.html#ixzz1eiQ26jTR
This show is a final showcase of each student's individual skills and training, rather than a single performance that includes all the cast. Essentially, each performer was given full reign as to the production and style of their performance. As such, it appears as an unlinked series of acts, without a common thread.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of one of the acts, I was aware of the nature of the showcase, yet I remained enthralled as I watched and compared each member of the troupe to their previous performances (We All Fall Down and Beautifully Imperfect) and noted with satisfaction (and a great deal of pride) how far the troupe had come.
Alas, this was the showcase, and I will see little of this wonderful, happy and inspiring group of youngsters as they make their ways in the world of circus. Good luck and best wishes to them all.